(Ana Krach / Pixabay)

The National Weather Service isn’t even trying to sugarcoat the forecast for Halloween.

Rain will dampen weekend festivities — trick-or-treaters and partygoers might want to consider the umbrella-toting Morton Salt Girl for a costume — and Halloween itself will be downright cold. Or in other words, a classic Midwest Halloween. Toss on a parka and tell everyone you were always planning on going as Polar Explorer Barbie.

It’s a sharp turn of events after Tuesday’s record-tying 83 degrees at the O’Hare weather station. Chicago hasn’t been so warm so late in the season since 1963, according to the weather service.

But by early next week, the weather service is forecasting the potential for a hard freeze, which occurs when temperatures drop below 28 degrees.

That spells not only the end of shorts and T-shirt weather, but gardening season too. Only a handful of plants, including kale, can withstand that kind of cold.

Have you heard? The coldest air so far this fall will arrive in the Great Lakes next week (Monday onward) with highs in the 30s and 40s and lows in the 20s. A growing season ending hard freeze is appearing increasingly likely across northern IL and northwestern IN! #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/wBFB3m0AQE

— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) October 25, 2023